REUBEN
Terry & Lana Thompson, tribe leaders

“Arise, Shine Rueben – Enter into the Glory of a new day by bringing forth a pure harvest for your Messiah, The God of Israel!”

Like many of you, I grew up in a home without Christ and like many of you I was introduced to Christ in an unusual setting.  Twenty-one years ago I attended a barbeque and that barbeque changed my life.

Let me back up a bit and give you some background.  I was born in Wyoming and raised in the bay area of California.  I met my wife Lana in high school and married her after graduation.  I joined the Air Force and we (along with our two children) toured the world.  We lived in Japan, New Mexico, California, Germany and Texas.  I had mastered the art of playing hard and working hard.  I was a social drinker and to put it lightly, I liked to socialize.  I considered my family a good family and I felt like we had a good life.  One day we had to rush our eleven year old daughter to the emergency room for what we thought was an asthma attack.  It turned out to be diabetes.  That diagnoses shook my wife and I.  I believe that diagnosis is what made my wife begin to search for an answer.

That answer came to her one evening in our living room.  I was out being “social”.  When I arrived home I instantly noticed a change in my wife.  She was glowing.  She was smiling.  Lana explained to me that she was flipping through the channels and started watching Christian television.  The minister spoke about Jesus Christ and his deep love for us.  That night she accepted Him as her Lord and Savior.  That night and everyday after that she began laying the foundation for my salvation by living the verse: I Peter 3:1, “Wives be submissive to your husband, so that if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without talk by the behavior of their wife when they observe their Christ-like loving spirit.” 

I am regretful to say that in the first nineteen years of our marriage we had never gone to church.  Not at Easter, not at Christmas.  Never.  Lana had begun attending a cell group at the church.  She was persistent in asking me to attend, but I kept saying no.  Then she told me about a barbeque her group was having and asking if I would go with her.  I said yes.

That barbeque was life changing.  This was my first experience around people who could be social, kind and have fun without alcohol.  Our entire family had a wonderful time.  Later that day we headed to a 2^nd barbeque.  This one was hosted by one of my work buddies.  When we arrived my eyes were instantly opened to the difference between the two events. 

That Sunday we attended Cornerstone church.  As with many of you on that Sunday Pastor Hagee preached a sermon meant just for me.  At the end of the service I went forward and gave my life to Christ and that evening I was baptized.

I cannot begin to stress how pivotal a cell group plays in the life of a believer.  Whether it is a barbeque that introduces a person to the love of Christ or the study and discussion that develops you in your faith your involvement in cell will bring blessings to you and your family.

Twenty-one years later I now have the honor of being COO of John Hagee Ministries and being the leader of the Tribe of Reuben.
Lana and I have been married OVER 40 years, our children are happily married to Godly spouses and we  have 3 grandsons and our first granddaughter is on the way.
A cell group barbeque changed my life, what could it do for your co-workers, friends or family?